Foam-producing and foam-dispensing means



March 14, 1967 v, BRUNO 3,308,993

FOAM-PRODUCING AND FOAM-DISPENSING MEANS Filed March 16, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR VICTOR M BRUNO V. M. BRUNO FOAM-PRODUCING ANDFOAMrDISPENSING MEANS March 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16,1966 I 74 FIG. IO INVENTOR.

VICTOR M, BRUNO 3,308,993- Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,308,993FOAM-PRODUCING AND FoAM-nrsrnNsmo MEANS Victor M. Bruno, R0. Box 18948,

- Los Angeles, Calif. 90018 Filed Mar. 16, 1966,.Ser. No. 541,892 28Claims. (Cl. 222-146) The present application comprises acontinuation-inpart of my copending patent application, Ser. No. 445,-060, filed Apr. .2, 1965.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to the mixing anddispensing art and, more particularly, to a mixer and dispenserprimarily intended for use in eifectively mixing air with a desiredliquid whereby to produce an intimately intermixed air-liquid foam andfor effectively dispensing same. In this connection, it should be notedthat the word liquid is to be very broadly construed and may includesingle or multiple ingredients and may comprise anything from arelatively viscous or even semi-liquid material or slurry to anextremely thin liquid of very low viscosity. For example, the so-calledliquid may comprise a shaving cream, which is a relatively thick andviscous material, or may comprise a relatively thin and low-viscosityliquid such as a detergent solution or various other similar liquids orcombinations of liquids.

The present invention is particularly intended for use in combination orassociation with flexible elastically collapsible containers which arefrequently made of flexible thin-walled plastic material such aspolyethylene, or the like, although not specifically so limited. Suchcontainers made in hollow longitudinal tubular configurations wherebyeach comprises a flexibly collapsible plastic tube closed at one end andprovided with a dispensing nozzle or spout (usually threaded andcarrying a correspondingly threaded closure cap) at the other end, haverecently come into wide usage; and the present invention is particularlywell adapted for use with such a plastic tube to effectively cause it tobe capable of producing and dispensing an air-liquid foam of the typereferred to above by merely repetitively squeezing and partiallycollapsing a portion of the plastic tube after the closure cap has beenremoved from the threaded dispensing nozzle thereof. Of course, it'willbe understood that when the manual volume-decreasing pressure is removedfrom the flexible plastic tube, it expands back to its normaluncollapsed configuration because of the elasticity of the plasticmaterial of which the tube is made. This alternate collapsing andexpanding movement of the plastic tube, as a result of intermittentlymanually-applied pressure, quickly and easily produces and dispenses anairliquid foam which is highly desirable in the case of a shaving cream,a shampoo, and a great variety of other liquid and semi-liquid materialsin the cosmetic, personal grooming, and related fields.

In other words, it can be said that such a conventional plastic tube,when provided with the additional elements which together therewithdefine the inventive combination of the present invention, are capableof producing foam at much lower cost than a conventionalpressurized-cantype of aerosol dispenser for liquid and semi-liquidmateriais. The lower cost of the above-mentioned plastictube arrangementapplies to both the actual cost of the comparative containers anddispensers and to the tooling costs for producing same.

Additionally, it should be noted that the novel foamproducing andfoam-dispensing means of the present invention can be very simplyproduced by merely inserting a very inexpensive cartridge or insertionunit into the open rear end of an entirely conventional plastic tube atthe time that liquid is conventionally placed therein and prior to thepermanent closure of the rear end of the tube in a conventional manner,thus adding very little cost to the finished article, both with respectto materials and with respect to the cost of assembly thereof.

However, the present invention is not limited to the arrangementdescribed in the preceding paragraph, but may take the form of anauxiliary foam-producing and foam-dispensing attachment unit adapted tobe engaged (usually threadedly engaged) to the dispensing nozzle of anentirely conventional and liquid-filled plastic tube so that liquid fromsaid conventional plastic tube can be fed into the auxiliaryfoam-producing and foam-dispensing unit which, as a result ofhand-pumping action of the type mentioned above, will effectivelyintermix a portion of the liquid with air to produce and dispense anairliquid foam combination thereof in a manner generally similar to thatdescribed above.

The important point to note is that, in the first arrangement describedabove, the final article is what appears to be an entirely conventionalplastic tube carrying a quantity of liquid therein and yet, after theclosure cap is removed therefrom, a small amount of hand-pumping actionof the type mentioned above will produce and dispense a foamedcombination of the liquid and air from the nozzle of the tube and thiscan be repeated successively and at various intervals until such time asall of the liquid has been dispensed in such foamed form, and that inthe second arrangement described above, an auxiliary foam-producing andfoam-dispensing unit is merely attached to an entirely conventionalplastic tube of liquid and is operated for the foam-producing andfoam-dispensing purposes described above. Either arrangement isextremely simple and inexpensive to produce and extremely easy tooperate by a user of the device.

Additionally, it should be noted that, in certain forms of theinvention, the foam may be heated by providing heating means inheat-transfer relationship with respect to the flow-path of the foamproduced by the foam-producing and foam-dispensing means. Said heatingmeans may be of an electrically energizable type, of a conductiveheat-transfer type wherein hot Water or other preheated Working mediumis passed therethrough for transferring heat to the foam, or may *be ofa type wherein heat is produced by an exothermic chemical reaction fortransferring heat to the foam, or may be of various other types capableof producing and/or transferring heat to the foam, if desired. However,this is an optional feature, and in the simpler and more inexpensivefoams of the invention as referred to hereinbefore, it may -beeliminated.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a novel foam-producing and foam-dispensing means which may beproduce-d by combining with'a flexible plastic container (usually aflexible plastic tube) an insertion unit which effectively converts saidflexible container into both a liquid reservoir and supply means and afoam-producing and foam-dispensing means capable of combining aportionof the liquid with air into an air-liquid foam and dispensing samethrough a dispensing outlet or nozzle means.

'It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelfoam-producing and foam-dispensing means which compises an auxiliaryunit adapted for simple and easy attachment to the dispensing nozzle oroutlet of a conventional liquid-filled plastic tube and which, when soattached, converts the combination thereof to a liquid reservoir andsupply means and a foam-producing and foam-dispensing means forconverting a portion of the liquid into an intimately mixed air-liquidfoam and for dispensing same for the purposes outlined above.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelfoam-producing and foam-dispensing means of ahe' character referred toabove which includes a novel which would otherwise tend to exclude thedesired amount of air, from said elastically compressible mixing bafiiemeans, which is necessary in order to produce an optimum air-liquidfoam.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device ofthe character referred to hereinbefore wherein the actual mixing of aquantity of the liquid and a quantity of air in a manner such as toeffectively produce a foam therefrom is accomplished by an elasticallycompressible mixing baffle means comprising a quantity of multi-cellsponge material having interconnected elastic solid portion defining aplurality of interconnected hollow communicating cells dispersedtherethrough and effectively providing a plurality of interconnectedbaflie passageways extending therethrough, with said elasticallycompressible fluid-mixing baffle means being positioned within anelastically manually compressible mixing chamber means which may be saidto comprise a forcing means, a pressure-applying means, or a manuallyoperable hand-pump means for changing the interior volume thereof andeffectively alternately compressing and releasing the mixing bafliemeans whereby to cause liquid and air within the mixing baffle means tobe move-d in intimate contact through said plurality of interconnectedbafile passageways whereby to effectively mix same into a foam.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a novelfoam-producing and foam-dispensing means of the character referred tohereinbefore, provided with heating means in association therewith foreffectively heating the foam produced and dispensed there-by.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelfoam-producing and foam-dispensing means which is of extremely small,simple, lightweight, easy-to-o-perate construction and which may beemployed for producing an air-liquid mix from a quantity of liquidcarried in a conventional flexible collapsible plastic tube.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a noveldevice of the character referred to herein generical'ly and/ orspecifically, and which may include any or all of the features referredto herein either individually or in combination and which is ofextremely simple, inexpensive construction requiring a minimum oftooling, production, and/ or assembly costs and which is capable of massmanufacture at a very low cost-per-unit whereby to be conducive towidespread manufacture, distribution, and use of the invention. 7

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which followshereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but notspecifically limiting the present invention), and said objects will beapparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of thedetailed description which follows.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention,several exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thehereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying drawings and aredescribed in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, ofone exemplary embodiment of the invention with the closure cap membershown in disengaged exploded relationship with respect to the dispensingnozzle means at the front end of the tube.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom end of theplastic tube of FIG. 1 in its normal pro-closure open relationship.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insert or cartridge unit of FIG. 1shown alone and prior to insertion into mounted relationship within aconventional flexible collapsible plastic tube to produce thecombination device illustrated in FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe mixing bafiie means of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe plug and barrier member comprising the flow-restricting effectivevalve means of FIG. 1. g

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partly-in section, showing the rear endportion of aslightly modified insert or cartridge unit, such as thefirst form thereof shown independently in FIG. 3, and in thismodification said carfridge unit is provided with a slightly modifiedrear-positioned flow-restricting effective valve means.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar of FIG. 1 but illustrates a furthermodification of the invention wherein a different type offlow-restricting effective valve means is employed from the first formthereof illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and the second form thereof illustratedin FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view of the valve member of FIG. 7 andthe mounting stem carried thereby.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the valve member ofFIGS. 7 and 9 more clearly showing the elastically deflectable flappervalve closure element overlying the plurality of restricted-area flowapertures of the valve member itself whereby to effectively comprise aone-way valve means open only in the presence of forwardly actingdifferential pressure across said flapper valve closure element.

FIG. 11 is a View similar to the upper portion of FIG.1, but illustratesa modification thereof wherein the mixing chamber means portion isphysically separate from the liquid reservoir and supply means portionof the plastic tube rather than comprising an integral forward partthereof as illustrated in the first form of the invention shown inFIG. 1. mixing chamber means portion effectively comprises an auxiliaryelement or unit adapted to be attached to the dispensing nozzle oroutlet of an entirely conventional liquid-filled plastic tube, the upperend portion of which is shown fragmentarily in phantom in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a View similar to FIG. 11, but illustrates a furthermodification of the invention additionally pro vided with auxiliaryheating chamber means adapted to be fastened either to the auxiliarydispensing nozzle of the auxiliary foam-producing unit of FIG. 11 ordirectiy to the dispensing nozzle of the plastic tube form of theinvention shown in FIG. 1, or the modification thereof shown in FIG. 7.This view is partly sectional and partly elevational in a mannercalculated to provide the maximum disclosure in a single view.

The various views of the mixing baflie means shown through the figuresand the various views of thesfirst' and second forms of flow-restrictingeffective vaive meansshown in the first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 1-5 and in the second form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 are, in most instances, shown in a man-' ner which doesnot illustrate the detail of the multiple interconnected cells thereofand the multiple interconnected baffle passeageways orthrough-passageways thereof, these features being illustratedfragmentarily in FIGS. 4 and 5 and in a sectional portion of FIG. 6 andbeing exemplary of the remaining structures of the correspond ingelements.

The exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 maybe said to comprise, in part a hollow container means of flexiblematerial, one form of which is generally designated at 20, wherein it isshown as comprising a hollow tubular longitudinal container means madeof flexible plastic material such as polyethylene, although it may bemade of various other suitable flexible materials. Such flexible plastictubes are normally extruded or molded to form a thin flexiblecylindrical side wall portion, such as indicated at 22, which isprovided In the modification of FIG. 11, said ascents with a closedfront end wall portion 24 at a front end thereof, Which may either beplastic-welded or otherwise suitably joined to the front end of thecylindrical side Wall portion 22 at the circular shoulder 26 in one formof such flexible plastic tube, or which may be integrally joined at saidshoulder 26 by forming or molding the closed front end wall portion 24at the front end of the extruded cylindrical side wall portion 22 in anintegral fashion.

The rear end of the cylindrical side wall portion 22 of the tube 20 isnormally initially open in the manner best shown fragmentarily at 28 inFIG. 2 and normally the hollow interior of a conventional prior artflexible plastic tube, such as that shown at 2%, is filled through saidrear opening 28 to any desired extent and the adjacent portions of thecylindrical side wall 22 forming and defining said rear opening 28 orthen joined together permanently to make a closed heat-sealed, orotherwise permanently fastened, junction of a flat spatulate form, asclearly shown at 30 in FIG. 1.

The opposite or front end of the tube 20 has a dispensing nozzle meansor outlet 32 centrally carried by the front end wall portion 24, whichis customarily provided with engaging means of a threaded type asindicated at 34 adapted to engage the corresponding cooperating engagingmeans 36 (also shown in the exemplary form of the invention ascomprising threaded engaging means) of the closure cap member 38. Saidclosure cap member 38 may, in certain forms thereof, be provided with aninterior gasket means or may rely upon the natural resiliency of theengaged portions of the cap member 38 and the dispensing nozzle means32, to provide a normally perfectly sealed closing engagement thereof.

To this point, the description set forth above is applicable toconventional prior art plastic tubes of the type referred to andillustrated at 20. However, it should be noted that when such aconventional prior art plastic tube 20 is provided with the insert orcartridge member generally designated at 40, as best shown in FIG. ,3,p-ositioned and mounted within the cylindrical side wall portion 22 ofthe plastic tube 26 in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 1, thecombination comprises one exemplary form of the novel foam-producing andfoam-dispensing means of the present invention, which will now bedescribed in detail.

When the insert or cartridge unit 40 is inserted through the open end 28of the plastic tube 26, followed by the insertion of the liquid 42thereinto and followed by the closing of said open end 28 and theforming thereof into the previously-mentioned spatulate sealing junctionor closed rear end 30, said insert or cartridge unit 40 is forced intothe forward end portion of the plastic tube 20 in a position such as isclearly shown in FIG. 1, Where it may be retained by reason of theresilient compressed engagement of said insert or cartridge unit 40 withrespect to the inside surface of the side wall 22 of the plastic tube20, or suitable cement means or other fastening means may be employedfor maintaining the insert or cartridge unit 44 in its proper positionwithin the tube 20 as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that the tubular container means 20 may be said tohave a rear hollow container means portion 20R and a front hollowcontainer means portion 26F, with the rear surface 44 of the insert orcartridge unit 4i) effectively defining the line of separation ordemarcation between said rear and front container means portions 20R and20F. It should also be noted that said rear hollow container meansportion 20R effectively defines liquid reservoir and supply means, suchas is generally designated at 46, which is adapted to contain thepreviouslymentioned liquid 42 therein. It should also be noted that thefront hollow container means portion 20F effectively defines thereinwhat might be termed a mixing chamber means, such asis generallydesignated by the reference numeral 48, having a rear end thereof (justforward of which is positioned within the mixing chamber means 48,

actually takes the form 'of an elastically compressible fluid-mixingbafile means 50 comprising a quantity of a 'muiti-cell sponge materialhaving interconnected solid portions defining a plurality ofinterconnected hollow communicating cells dispersed therethrough andeffectively providing a plurality of interconnected baffled passagewaysextending therethrough and which, in certain preferred forms thereof,are of a tortuous type having many directional changes therealong. Thisis best illustrated by a careful examination of FIG. 4, which comprisesa greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a smallrepresentative portion of the fluid-mixing baffle means 50 and whichclearly shows a few representative ones of said plurality ofinterconnected hollow communicating cells at 52 defined by saidinterconnected solid portions 53 and which also clearly shows arepresentative one of said plurality of interconnected bafflepassageways as indicated by the arrow designated by the referencenumeral 54 in FIG. 4. It should be understood that the remainder of thebaflle means 50 is of similar construction, although this is not shownin detail in FIG. 1 for reasons of drawing simplicity and clarity.

It should be noted that the portion of the cylindrical side wall 22 ofthe plastic tube 20 which comprises the side wall of thepreviously-mentioned front hollow container means portion 20F is ofelastic material and is, therefore, capable of being manually collapsedwhereby to reduce the interior volume of the mixing chamber means 48positioned therewithin and to simultaneously compress and reduce thevolume of the mixing bafile means 50 mentioned within the mixing chambermeans 48 and, thus, may be said to comprise pressure-applying meanstaking the form of a manually controllably operable variable-volurnehand-pump means, generally designated by the reference numeral 56, whichis manually operable by alternate forcible manual collapsing and releasethereof for effectively forcing liquid (which has been supplied to saidelastically compressible mixing bafiie means 50 from the liquidreservoir and supply means 46) and air (which has been supplied to saidelastically compressible mixing bafile means 50 through the dispensingnozzle means 32, when open) through the previouslymentioned plurality ofinterconnected ibafiie passageways (a representative one of which isindicated at 54 in FIG. 4) of the fluid-mixing baflie means 50 foreffectively mixing the liquid 42 with air in a manner such as to form anintimately intermixed air-liquid foam which is adapted to be dispensedthrough the dispensing nozzle means 32 as a result of said manualoperation of the hand-pump means 56 in the manner described above.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5,the insert or cartridge unit 40 is also provided at the rear end with aflow-restricting effective valve means, generally designated by thereference numeral 58, positioned in the flow-path between the liquidreservoir and supply means 46 and the mixing chamber means 43 andoperable to restrict the feeding of the liquid 42 into the fluid-mixingbaffle means 50 to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baflie passagewaysand cells thereof (such as best shown at 54 and 52 in FIG. 4) to 'anextent which would otherwise substantially exclude air therefrom in amanner which would prevent the optimum formation of foam in the mannerdescribed hereinfore. In other words, the effective valve means 58 actsin a manner such as to prevent complete flooding of the mixing bafl'lemeans 50 by the liquid 42 during repetitive manual operation of thehand-pump means 56 in the manner described hereinbefore, but yet in amanner such as to allow sufficient flow of the liquid 42 through theeffective valve means 58 into the rear end of the mixing bafile means 50to produce the optimum formation of foam as a result of manual operationof the hand-pump means 56.

It will be understood that if the complete tube 26 is stored for aconsiderable period of time in a horizontal position, the liquid 42 maygradually seep through the effective valve means 53 until the mixingbaffle means 50 is virtually completely saturated, or very nearly so, sothat when the tube 20 is picked up, the cap 38 removed, and manualoperation of the hand-pump means 56 begun, an excess amount of theliquid 42 will be in the mixing baffle means 50. This will merely meanthat, at the beginning of the hand-pumping operation, the foam will beslightly wetter than optimum. However, after a short period of thehand-pumping operation, sufficient foam will have been dischargedthrough the nozzle means 32 to have reduced the saturation of the mixingbafiie means 50 to an optimum value. This is particularly so, since thisinitial hand-pumping operation may be done with the tube 20 in anupright position so as to minimize additional passage of liquid 42 fromthe reservoir means 46 through the effective valve means 58 and into themixing baflle means 59. Furthermore, even in the event that the tube 20is partially or wholly horizontally inclined or positioned, the samepartial drying of the mixing baffle means 50 will occur during theinitial phases of a handpumping operation because of theflow-restricting effect of the effective valve means 58. In either case,the net result is that the mixing baffle means 50 soon reaches anoptimum condition of only partial liquid saturation for combination withair contained within the mixing baffle means 51) in a manner such as toproduce foam in a highly efficient and substantially optimum manner.

The effective valve means 58 illustrated in the first form of theinvention comprises a plug and barrier member of elastically compressedmulti-cell elastomeric sponge ma- .terial having restricted-areaflow-limiting through-passageways defined therein by multipleinterconnected cells thereof which thus function in a manner such as torestrict the feeding of the liquid 42 therethrough for the liquidsaturation prevention purposes outlined above. This is best illustratedin the greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view comprising FIG.wherein a representative small cross-sectional portion of saidflowrestricting plug and barrier member comprising said effective valvemeans 58 is shown and wherein the compressed multiple interconnectedcells thereof are designated by the reference numeral 60, theinterconnection solid portions are indicated at 61, and a representativeone of the plurality of compressed interconnected bafile passagewaysthereof is indicated by the arrow designated by the reference numeral62. It should be understood that FIG. 5 represents the cross'sectionalconstruction of the remainder of said effective'valve means 58 and thatit initially was radially larger than the cylindrical overlying mixingbaffle means 50, to which it is cemented or otherwise attached, as isclearly illustrated in FIG. 3, so that when inserted into the mountedrelationship shown in FIG. 1, said flowrestricting plug and barriermember comprising said effective valve means 58 is substantiallyresiliently radially compressed, which further enhances and increasesthe flow-restricting characteristics thereof and which also acts tofrictionally resiliently mount and maintain the position of the entireinsert or cartridge unit if) within the mixing chamber portion 48 of thetube 20.

The fluid-mixing baffle means 50 may be provided with air hole meansextending thereinto and positioned in forward communication with thedispensing nozzle means 32 and effectively at least partially closed atthe rear end by the flow-restricting effective valve means 58. In theexemplary first form of the invention illustrated, said air hole meanstakes the form of a longitudinal centrally positioned air hole core 64substantially longitudinally coaxially positioned within thefluid-mixing baffle means 59 and the mixing chamber means 48 and havinga front open end 66 substantially aligned with, and in interiorcommunication with, the dispensing nozzle means 32 and having a rear end68 effectively partially closed by the flow-restricting effective valvemeans 58, which extends thereacross.

The air hole means 64 facilitates the formation of foam 1 in two ways.First, it facilitates the introduction of air into the mixing bafflemeans 50 from the open dispensing nozzle means 32 and, second, itprovides an auxiliary chamber for the foam to form in and to belongitudinally centrally coaxially dispensed out of through thedispensing nozzle means 32.

By varying the position of a hand holding the tube 20 so as to controlwhere the application of intermittent tube-collapsing force is applied,control of the foaming action produced by the intermittent collapsingand expansion of the mixing baffle means 20 and corresponding control ofthe liquid-feeding action from the reservoir 45 through the effectivevalve means 58 can be varied and modified at will. Further control ofthe liquid feeding action can be effected by modifying the position ofthe tube Ztl from an upright position toward an upwardly inclined,horizontal, or depressed partially inverted position, thus controllingthe effect of gravity upon the liquid-feeding action.

It should be noted that, while the form of cartridge or insert unit 40'illustrated in the first form of the invention is very effective for thepurposes of the present invention, the invention is not sepcificallylimited to all of the specifically-described features thereof set forthabove. For example, in certain forms of the invention, the air holemeans 64 may be modified or eliminated entirely. Also, in certain formsof the invention, the flow-restricting effective valve means 58 may bemodified or eliminated entirely. These modifications further simplifythe invention and, if the simplification warrants the loss of functionwhich results from such simplification, such modifications may beemployed in lieu of the exemplary first form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. l-S.

FIG. 6 fragmentarily illustrates a slight modification of the bottomportion of the mixing bafiie means 50* of the first form of theinvention and the effective valve means 58 of the first form of theinvention, and corresponding parts of this modification are designatedby similar refere-ncenumerals, followed by the letter a, however.

It will be noted that in the FIG. 6' modification, the flow-restrictingeffective valve means 58a is not cemented or fastened to the rear of themixing baffie means 56a in the manner of the corresponding elements ofthe first form of the invention, but instead comprises an integral rearportion and the multi-cell sponge material of the mixing baffle means50a may be said to be effectively compressed so as to have a reducedratio of effective cross-sectional area of through-passageways 62arelative to interconnected solid portions 61a thereof as compared toother regions of the mixing bafile means 50a. This is apparent fromcareful examination of said throughpassageways as exemplified by the oneindicated by the arrow identified by the reference numeral 62a in FIG.6. Obviously, this will tend to restrict the flow of liquidtherethrough. Otherwise the FIG. 6 modification of the invention issimilar to the first form of the invention of FIGS. 1-5 and no furtherdescription thereof is thought necessary.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate a further modification of the flow-restrictingeffective valve means 58 of the first form of the invention, which issubstantially modified in this form of the invention and which isgenerally designated by the reference character 58b.

In the FIGS. 7-10 modification, the flow-restricting face of the mixingbaflie means valve means 58b comprises a substantially disc shaped valvemember 70 having a tapered forwardly diverging skirt member 72 andhaving a plurality of restricted-area W apertures 74 extending throughthe valve member 70. Also, the valve member 70' has a forwardlyextending longitudinal mounting stem 76 adapted to extend longitudinallyconcentrically forwardly throu-ghthe air hole 64b at the center of themixing baffle means 50b and through the dispensing nozzle means 32b to aposition exterior thereof and there being provided with nozzleabutmentretaining hook means 78 adapted to maintain the valve member 70 in rearabutment with the rear sur- 50'b, as is clearly shown in FIG. 7. V

The exemplary modified from shown in FIGS. 7-10 also includes anelastically deflecta-ble disc-shaped flapper valve closure element 80closing the front openings of the apertures 74- except in the presenceof forwardlyacting differential pressure produced primarily duringvolume contraction of the liquid reservoir means 46b resulting from themanual squeezing thereof. Whenever such forwardly-acting differentialpressure is so produced, the flapper valve closure element 80' movesaway from the valve apertures 74 and allows the liquid 42b to feedforwardly into the mixing bafiie means 50b, .as fragmen-tarily indicatedin FIG. 10. At other times, such forward feeding action does not occur,and, of course, reverse feeding action is prevented by the flapper valveclosure element 80 and the forwardly diverging skirt 72.

In other words, the composite valve structure (includ ing the valvemember 70, the skirt 72, the apertures 74, and the flapper valve closureelement 88) effectively comprises a one-way valve means for allowingforward feeding action of the liquid 42b and for substantiallypreventing reverse flow thereof. v

It should be noted that the nozzle abutment retaining hook means 78pulls the tapered valve member flange 72 into forcible inside contactwith the corresponding portion of the side wall 22b of the plastic tubeb and firmly positions and locks not only the valve member 70 in place,but also the mixing baflle means 56b.

It should be noted that, in certain forms of the modifiasoaoee cationillustrated in FIGS. 710, the flapper valve closure element 89 may bemodified or eliminated entirely with the consequent loss of the one-wayvalve action effect produced thereby.

FIG. 11 illustrates a further modification of the invention, andportions which correspond to those of the first form of the inventionare designated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter 0,however.

In the FIG. 11 modification, it will -be noted that the mixing chambermeans 48c and, indeed, the entire container means portion 20Fc and theentire hand-pump means 560, comprise an auxiliary separate attachmentunit adapted to be removably attached to the dispensing nozzle 320 of aconventional liquid-filled plastic tube 200, which is shownfragmentarily in phantom in FIG. 11.

The mixing chamber 480 has a rear communication end 82 thereof which isadapted for communication with the liquid contained within theconventional plastic tube 280 and which may be said to comprise a liquidreservoir and supply means. This is accomplished by reason of the factthat said rear communication end 82 of the mixing chamber means 56c isprovided with rear engaging means 84 (interiorly threaded .in theexemplary form illustrated in FIG. 11) which is controllably engageablewith respect to the dispensing nozzle means 320 (which is alsoexteriorly threaded in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 11) of theconventional plastic tube 20c, thus placing the mixing chamber 48c incommunication with the hollow interior of the conventional plastic tube200 so that liquid, such as that shown at 420, may be fed through thenozzle 32c into the mixing chamber 480 Where manual operation of thehand-pump means 56c will produce foam in themanner previously describedin connection with the first form of the invention and will cause sameto be dispensed outwardly through the auxiliary dispensing nozzle oroutlet 86, which may be provided with a normally closing cap 88.

In the modification shown in FIG. 11, the rear communication end 82 ofthe mixing chamber 560 is also provided with a one-way valve meansgenerally designated at 580 which allows forward fiow of liquidtherethrough while preventing reverse flow therethrough. In the exampleillustrated, said one-Way valve means 53c comprises a ball whichnormally rests, under the action of gravity, on the nozzle 320 of theconventional plastic tube 200 and/ or on the rearthreaded engaging means84 of the rear communication end 82 of the mixing chamber means 480 andis retained against loss (but in a manner which allows verticalunseating movement of the ball 90) by an apertured mounting spider 92which is fastened over said rear threaded engaging means 84. However, aspring-biased ball check valve or other type of one-way valve may besubstituted in lieu of the structure just described in certain forms ofthe invention.

It should be noted that the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 11lends itself very well to an arrangement adapted to mix with the liquidand .air in the mixing bafiie means 500 at the time that foam isproduced thereby, one or more additive materials or agents which may beinitially positioned in the multiple cells and/ or bafiie passageways ofthe mixing baffle means 50c or exterior thereof but still in the mixingchamber means 480. This type of arrangement would, of course, keep saidadditive material completely separated from the liquid contained withinthe conventional plastic tube 200 until said liquid is fed by asqueezing action of the plastic tube 200 into the mixing chamber 480 andoperation of the hand-pump means 56c is manually effected for thepurpose of producing a foam in the manner described hereinbefore. Theadditive material might be a powder, a liquid, or virtually any type ofadditive material or catalyst, or the like, which has an effect on theliquid contained within the conventional plastic tube 200, which is afunction of time. For example, certain hair-coloring preparationsnormally consist of a liquid which is to be combined with a powder andwhich has a very short active life of only 15 to 20 minutes and whichthereafter spoils and becomes unusable. Obviously, such a powder couldbe contained within the mixing chamber means 480 in either of the waysmentioned above and the liquid could be contained within theconventional plastic tube 20c so that they would be completely separateduntil just before they are mixed into a foam and dispensed for haircoloring usage. It is to be understood that this is illustrative onlyand is not to be construed as limiting the type of additive agents ormaterials, and it is further to be understood that it is possible toadapt this novel inventive concept to the other forms of the inventiondisclosed in this application by making appropriate modifications foreffective isolation of the liquid from the additive material in keepingwith the teachings of the disclosure just made above.

FIG. 12 illustrates a further modification of the invention, andportions similar to those of FIG. 11 are designated by similar referencenumerals, followed by the letter d, however. In this modification, anauxiliary heating chamber means, generally indicated at 94, is providedat the rear thereof with threaded engaging means 96, which threadedlyengages an auxiliary nozzle 86d, which corresponds to that shown at 86in FIG. 11, and is provided at the front thereof with an auxiliarydispensing opening 98 through which heated foam is adapted to bedispensed.

The auxiliary heating chamber means 94 is interiorly provided with abaffled heat-transfer flow-path tube 100, which carries interiorbafl'ling means 102 therein, which effectively greatly extends theflow-path through the tube 100 from the mixing chamber means 48d to theauxiliary dispensingopening 98, and said baffled heat-transfer flow- 1 lpath tube 100 is provided with heating means 104 positioned inheat-transferring relationship with respect thereto for controllablyheating liquid-air foam produced by the mixing bafiie means 500? anddischarged through the auxiliary dispensing nozzle means 86d.

In the exemplary from illustrated in FIG. 12, said heating means 104 isof a controllably electrically energizable type and is shown somewhatdiagrammatically and not in full mechanical detail, since suchelectrically energizable heating means are well-known in the art, andelectric circuit means 106 and exterior plug means 198 provide means forelectrically energizing same. It should be understood that an extensioncord and/or suitable switch means may be employed, if desired, althoughsuch are not shown in FIG. 12 since they are well-known in the art.

Also, it should be noted that the entire auxiliary heating chamber means94 need not be mounted on the auxiliary nozzle 86d of the auxiliarymixing chamber means 48d, but instead may be mounted directly on thedispensing nozzle 32 of FIG. for 3212 of FIG. 7, if desired, and theshowing of FIG. 12 is intended to provide a full and complete disclosureof such an arrangement in addition to the mounting thereof on theauxiliary mixing chamber means 48d. Otherwise the modificationillustrated in FIG. 12 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 11 and,therefore, no further detailed description thereof is thought necessaryor desirable.

It should be noted that the various different forms of the mixing bafiiemeans, such as the representative one shown at 50 in FIG. 1, maypreferably be made of urethane plastic foam or sponge material, thoughnot specifically so limited in all forms of the invention. Also, itshould be noted that the exemplary flow-restricting .valve means 58 ofthe first form of the invention may preferably be made of a cellulosicsponge material, although not specifically so limited in all forms ofthe invention. Furthermore, the valve member ill and mounting stem 76 ofthe form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-10 and, in certaincases, the flapper closure member 80 thereof may be made of polyethylenematerial, or other functionally equivalent material. The auxiliary unitsshown in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12 may similarly be made of moldedpolyethylene, or other functionally equivalent material, in preferredforms thereof. The bafiled heat-transfer flow-path tube 1% of the FIG.12 form of the invention is preferably made of aluminum or othermaterial having a high heat-transfer coelficient.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific descriptionthereof set forth in this application are for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention and are not to be construed aslimiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specificstructure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore.Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantiallyequivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventiveconcept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for effectively mixing air with a liquid and therebyproducing an intimately intermixed air-liquid foam and for effectivelydispensing same, comprising: hollow container means of flexible elasticmaterial having a permanently closed rear end and a closed front endprovided with a dispensing nozzle means, said container means comprisinga rear hollow container means portion effectively defining liquidreservoir and supply means therein adapted to contain therein a quantityof a liquid which is to have at least a portion thereof effectivelyintimately mixed with a quantity of air to form a desired quantity offoam which is to be dispensed thereafter, said container means furthercomprising a front hollow container means portion effectively definingtherein mixing chamber means having'a rear end thereof in communicationwith a front end of said liquid reservoir and supply means for forwardpassage of the liquid adapted to be contained within said liquidreservoir and supply means; elastically compressible fluid-mixing bafliemeans mounted within said mixing chamber means and substantiallycompletely filling said mixing chamber means and extendinglongitudinally from a position immediately forward of saidrear-positioned liquid reservoir and supply means to a positionimmediately behind said closed front end and extending transverselysubstantially completely' across said mixing chamber means whereby tosubstantially exteriorly fill said mixing chamber means in a mannerleaving substantially no open space in the front interiorcross-sectional portion of said mixing chamber means immediately behindsaid closed front end unoccupied by the front end of said elasticallycompressible fluid-mixing balile means, said elastically compressiblefluid-mixing baffle means comprising a quantity of multi-cell spongematerial having interconnected elastic solid portions defining aplurality of interconnected hollow communicating cells dispersedtherethrough and effectively providing a plurality of interconnectedbaliie passageways extending therethrough, said front container meansportion defining said mixing chamber means therein having a collapsibleelastic wall portion adjacent to the interior of said mixing chambermeans defined therein and said elastically compressible fluid-mixingbaffle means mounted therein and effectively comprising apressure-applying means taking the form of a manually controllablyoperable variable-volume handpump means manually operable foreffectively forcing liquid, which has been supplied to said elasticallycompressible mixing baflle means from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans, and air, which has been supplied to said elastically compressiblemixing baflle means through said dispensing nozzle means, through saidplurality of interconnected baflie passageways of said fluid-mixingbaffle passageways of said fluid-mixing baffle means for effectivelymixing the liquid and air and forming an intimately intermixedair-liquid foam and for subsequently dispensing same through saiddispensing nozzle means as a result of said manual operation of saidvariable-volume hand-pump means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafile means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum .low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baffle passagewaysof said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multi-cellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flow-limitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected cellsthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing baflie means carriedwithinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as toprevent excessive liquid saturation of the plurality of interconnectedbafile passageways of said mixing baffle means and the consequentsubstantial exclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manualoperation of said handpump means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim ll, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multi-cellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flowlimitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected cellsthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing baffle means carried withinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as to preventexcessive liquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baillepassageways of said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantialexclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manual operation ofsaid hand-pump means, said flow-restricting plug and barrier member ofsponge material being fastened to the rear end of said fluid-mixing bamemeans and being resiliently radially compressibly engaged and mountedwithin said mixing chamber means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multi-cellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flowlimitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected cellsthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing bafile means carried withinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as to preventexcessive liquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected bafllepassageways of said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantialexclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manual operation ofsaid hand-pump means, said flow-restricting effective valve meanscomprising an integral portion of the multicell sponge material'of themixing baffle means at the rear end thereof having a reduced ratio ofeffective crosssectional area of said through-passageways relative tothe interconnected solid portions thereof as compared to the otherregions of the mixing baffle means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafile means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the pinrality of interconnected baffle passagewaysof said mixing baflle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said flow-restricting valve means comprising an aperturedvalve member of flexible material provided with a plurality ofrestricted-area flow apertures therethrough and an elasticallydeflectable flapper valve closure element closing the front openings ofsaid apertures exceptin the presence of forwardly acting differentialpressure produced as a result of manually squeezing the rear hollowcontainer means portion defining said liquid reservoir and supply meanstherein.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including 'a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafiie means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baffle passagewaysof said mixing baflle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said flow-restricting valve means comprising an aperturedvalve member of flexible material provided with a plurality ofrestricted-area flow apertures therethrough and an elasticallydeflectable flapper valve closure element closing the front openings ofsaid apertures except in the presence of forwardly acting differentialpressure produced as a result of manually squeezing the rear hollowcontainer means portion defining said liquid reservoir and supply meanstherein, saidvalve member being provided with a longitudinal mountingstem extending vertically concentrically forwardly 14 through the centerof the mixing baflle means to the dispensing nozzle means and therebeing provided with noz' zle abutment retaining means adapted tomaintain said valve member in rear abutment with said mixing bafflemeans.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluidmixing bafllemeans is provided with hole means extending thereinto and in forwardcommunication with said dispensing nozzle means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafi ie means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected bafile passagewaysof said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said fluid-mixing baffle means being provided with holemeans extending thereinto and forwardly in communication With saiddispensing nozzle means and rearwardly effectively partially closed bysaid flow-restricting effective valve means.

it Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing baffle means carried Within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baffle passagewaysof said mixing bafile means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said fluid-mixing bafl'le means is provided with holemeans extending thereinto and in forward communication with saiddispensing nozzle means, said hole means comprising a longitudinalcentrally positioned hole core substantially longitudinallyrcoaxiallypositioned within said fluid-mixing baffle means and said mixing chambermeans and having a front open end substantially aligned with and ininterior communication with said dispensing nozzle means and having arear end effectively partially closed by said flow-restricting effectivevalve means which extends thereacross.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including heating means mountedadpacent to said dispensing nozzle means in heat-transferringrelationship with respect to intermixed air and liquid foam produced bysaid mixing baffie means and dispensed through said dispensing nozzlemeans.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said front container meansportion defining said mixing chamber means is physically separate fromand non-integral with respect to said rear container means portiondefining said liquid reservoir and supply means and is provided withcontrollably engageable and disengageable interlocking engaging meansand communication means for effectively mechanically interlocking sametogether and for placing said liquid reservoir and supply means in saidinterior communication with said mixing chamber means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including auxiliary heating chambermeans provided with engaging means at the rear thereof controllablyengageable with respect to said dispensing nozzle means and provided atthe front thereof with an auxiliary dispensing opening and interiorlyprovide-d with a baffled heat-transfer flowpath tube provided withheating means positioned in heat-transferring relationship with respectthereto for controllably heating the intimately mixed liquid and airfoam produced by said mixing baffle means and discharged through saiddispensing nozzle means.

lld Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including auxiliary heating chambermeans provided with engaging .7 means at the rear thereof controllablyengageabie with respect to said dispensing nozzle means and provided atthe front thereof with an auxiliary dispensing opening and interiorlyprovided with a baffled heat-transfer flowpath tube provided withheating means positioned in heat-transferring relationship with respectthereto for controllably heating the intimately mixed liquid and airfoam produced by said mixing baffle means and discharged through saiddispensing nozzle means, said rear engaging means and said dispensingnozzle means engaged thereby being effectively provided with one-waycheck valve means allowing forward flow of the dispensed mixed liquidand air foam therethrough while substantially preventing reverse flowthereof.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said front container meansportion defining said mixing chamber means is physically separate fromand non-integral with respect to said rear container means portiondefining said liquid reservoir and supply means and is provided withcontrollably engageable and disengageable interlocking engaging meansand communication means for effectively mechanically interlocking sametogether and for placing said liquid reservoir and supply means in saidinterior communication with said mixing chamber means, said rearengaging means and communication means and said dispensing nozzle meansengaged thereby being effectively provided with one-way check valvemeans allowing forward flow of liquid from the liquid reservoir andsupply means therethrough while prevent ing reverse flow thereof.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said front container meansportion defining said mixing chamber means is physically separate fromand non-integral with respect to said rear container means portiondefining said liquid reservoir and supply means and is provided withcontrollably engageable and disengageable interlocking engaging meansand communication means for effectively mechanically interlocking sametogether and for placing said liquid reservoir and supply means in saidinterior communication with said mixing chamber means, said rearengaging means and communication means and said dispensing nozzle meansengaged thereby being effectively provided with one-way check valvemeans allowing forward flow of liquid from the liquid reservoir andsupply means therethrough while preventing reverse flow thereof, saidmixing chamber means being provided therein with an additive materialfor addition to and mixing with liquid and air therein during theformation of foam therefrom and prior to the dispensing of the foamthrough the dispensing nozzle means.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flow restrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafile means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low 'value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected bafiie passagewaysof said mixing baffie means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multi-cellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flowlimitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected cellsthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing bafiie means carried withinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as to preventexcessive liquid saturation ofthe plurality of interconnected bafflepassageways of said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantialexclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manual operation ofsaid handpump means.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multi-cellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flow-limitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected cellsthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing baffle means carried withinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as to preventexcessive liquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baffiepassageways of said mixing baffie means and the consequent substantialexclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manual operation ofsaid handpump means, said flow-restricting plug and barrier member ofsponge material being fastened to the rear end of said fluid-mixingbafiie means and being resiliently radially compressibly engaged andmounted within said mixing chamber means.

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and comprisinga plug and barrier member of elastically compressed multicellelastomeric sponge material having restricted-area flow-limitingthrough-passageways defined therein by multiple interconnected celisthereof operable to restrict the feeding of the liquid from said liquidreservoir and supply means into the mixing baffle means carried withinthe mixing chamber means to an optimum low value such as to preventexcessive liquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected bafiiepassageways of said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantialexclusion of air therefrom during repeated normal manual operation ofsaid handpump means, said flow-restricting effective valve meanscomprising an integral portion of the multi-cell sponge material of themixing baffle means at the rear end thereof having a reduced ratio ofeffective cross-sectional area of said through-passageways relative tothe interconnected solid portions thereof as compared to the otherregions of the mixing bafile means.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing bafiie means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the plurality of interconnected baffie passagewaysof said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said flow-restricting valve means comprising an aperturedvalve member of flexible material provided with a plurality ofrestricted-area flow apertures therethrough and an elasticallydefiectable flapper valve closure element closing the front openings ofsaid apertures except in the presence of forwardly acting differentialpressure produced as a result of manually squeezing the rear hollowcontainer means portion defining said liquid reservoir and supply meanstherein.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, including a flowrestrictingeffective valve means positioned in the flow path between said liquidreservoir and supply means and said mixing chamber means and operable torestrict the feeding of liquid from said liquid reservoir and supplymeans into the fluid-mixing baffle means carried within said mixingchamber means to an optimum low value such as to prevent excessiveliquid saturation of the 'plurality of interconnected baffle passagewaysof said mixing baffle means and the consequent substantial exclusion ofair therefrom, said flow-restricting valve means cornprising anapertured valve member of flexible material 1. 7 provided with aplurality of restricted-area flow apertures therethrough and anelastically deflectable flapper valve closure element closing the frontopenings of said apertures except in the presence of forwardly actingdifferential pressure produced as a result of manually squeezing therear hollow container means portion defining said liquid reservoir andsupply means therein, said valve member being provided with alongitudinal mounting stem extending vertically concentrically forwardlythrough the center of the mixing bafi'le means to the dispensing nozzle'means and there being provided with nozzle abutment retaining meansadapted to maintain said valve member in rear abutment with said mixingbafile means.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said hole means comprises alongitudinal, centrally-positioned hole core substantiallylongitudinally coaxially positioned within said fluid-mixing bafflemeans and having a front open end substantially aligned with, and ininterior communication with, said dispensing nozzle means.

24, Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said flowrestrictingeflective valve means comprises a plug and barrier member of elasticallycompressed multi-cell elastomeric sponge material having restricted-areaflow-limiting through-passageways defined therein by multipleinterconnected cells thereof operable to restrict the feeding of theliquid from said liquid reservoir and supply means into the mixingbafiie means carried Within the mixing chamber means to an optimum lowvalue such as to prevent said excessive liquid saturation of theplurality of interconnected bafile passageways of said mixing bafilemeans and said consequent substantial exclusion of air therefrom duringrepeated normal manual operation of said hand-pump means.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said flow-restricting plugand barrier member of sponge material is fastened to the rear end offluid-mixing bafiie means and is resiliently radially compressiblyengaged and mounted within said mixing chamber means.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said flowrestrictingeffective valve means comprises an integral portion of the multi-cellsponge material of the mixing bafile means at the rear end thereofhaving a'reduced ratio of eifective cross-sectional area of saidthrough-passageways relative to the interconnected solid portionsthereof as compared to the other regions of the mixing baffle means.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said flowrestricting valvemeans comprises an apertured valve member of flexible material providedwith a plurality of restricted-area flow apertures therethrough and anelastically defiectable flapper valve closure element closing the frontopenings of said apertures except in the presence of forwardly actingdifferential pressure produced as a result of manually squeezing therear hollow container means portion defining said liquid reservoir andsupply means therein.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said valve member isprovided with a longitudinal mounting stem extending verticallyconcentrically forwardly through the center of the mixing baflle meansto the dispensing nozzle means and there is provided withnozzle-abutment retaining means adapted to maintain said valve member inrear abutment with said mixing bafiie means.

References Cited by the Examiner RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR EFFECTIVELY MIXING AIR WITH A LIQUID AND THEREBYPRODUCING AN INTIMATELY INTERMIXED AIR-LIQUID FOAM AND FOR EFFECTIVELYDISPENSING SAME, COMPRISING: HOLLOW CONTAINER MEANS OF FLEXIBLE ELASTICMATERIAL HAVING A PERMANENTLY CLOSED REAR END AND A CLOSED FRONT ENDPROVIDED WITH A DISPENSING NOZZLE MEANS, SAID CONTAINER MEANS COMPRISINGA REAR HOLLOW CONTAINER MEANS PORTION EFFECTIVELY DEFINING LIQUIDRESERVOIR AND SUPPLY MEANS THEREIN ADAPTED TO CONTAIN THEREIN A QUANTITYOF A LIQUID WHICH IS TO HAVE AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF EFFECTIVELYINTIMATELY MIXED WITH A QUANTITY OF AIR TO FORM A DESIRED QUANTITY OFFOAM WHICH IS TO BE DISPENSED THEREAFTER, SAID CONTAINER MEANS FURTHERCOMPRISING A FRONT HOLLOW CONTAINER MEANS PORTION EFFECTIVELY DEFININGTHEREIN MIXING CHAMBER MEANS HAVING A REAR END THEREOF IN COMMUNICATIONWITH A FRONT END OF SAID LIQUID RESERVOIR AND SUPPLY MEANS FOR FORWARDPASSAGE OF THE LIQUID ADAPTED TO BE CONTAINED WITHIN SAID LIQUIDRESERVOIR AND SUPPLY MEANS; ELASTICALLY COMPRESSIBLE FLUID-MIXING BAFFLEMEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS AND SUBSTANTIALLYCOMPLETELY FILLING SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS AND EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY FROM A POSITION IMMEDIATELY FORWARD OF SAIDREAR-POSITIONED LIQUID RESERVOIR AND SUPPLY MEANS TO A POSITIONIMMEDIATELY BEHIND SAID CLOSED FRONT END AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELYSUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY ACROSS SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS WHEREBY TOSUBSTANTIALLY EXTERIORLY FILL SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS IN A MANNERLEAVING SUBSTANTIALLY NO OPEN SPACE IN THE FRONT INTERIORCROSS-SECTIONAL PORTION OF SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS IMMEDIATELY BEHINDSAID CLOSED FRONT END UNOCCUPIED BY THE FRONT END OF SAID ELASTICALLYCOMPRESSIBLE FLUID-MIXING BAFFLE MEANS, SAID ELASTICALLY COMPRESSIBLEFLUID-MIXING BAFFLE MEANS COMPRISING A QUANTITY OF MULTI-CELL SPONGEMATERIAL HAVING INTERCONNECTED ELASTIC SOLID PORTIONS DEFINING APLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED HOLLOW COMMUNICATING CELLS DISPERSEDTHERETHROUGH AND EFFECTIVELY PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTEDBAFFLE PASSAGEWAYS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, SAID FRONT CONTAINER MEANSPORTION DEFINING SAID MIXING CHAMBER MEANS THEREIN HAVING A COLLAPSIBLEELASTIC WALL PORTION ADJACENT TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID MIXING CHAMBERMEANS DEFINED THEREIN AND SAID ELASTICALLY COMPRESSIBLE FLUID-MIXINGBAFFLE MEANS MOUNTED THEREIN AND EFFECTIVELY COMPRISING APRESSURE-APPLYING MEANS TAKING THE FORM OF A MANUALLY CONTROLLABLYOPERABLE VARIABLE-VOLUME HANDPUMP MEANS MANUALLY OPERABLE FOREFFECTIVELY FORCING LIQUID, WHICH HAS BEEN SUPPLIED TO SAID ELASTICALLYCOMPRESSIBLE MIXING BAFFLE MEANS FROM SAID LIQUID RESERVOIR AND SUPPLYMEANS, AND AIR, WHICH HAS BEEN SUPPLIED TO SAID ELASTICALLY COMPRESSIBLEMIXING BAFFLE MEANS THROUGH SAID DISPENSING NOZZLE MEANS, THROUGH SAIDPLURALITY OF INTERCONNECTED BAFFLE PASSAGEWAYS OF SAID FLUID-MIXINGBAFFLE PASSAGEWAYS OF SAID FLUID-MIXING BAFFLE MEANS FOR EFFECTIVELYMIXING THE LIQUID AND AIR AND FORMING AN INTIMATELY INTERMIXEDAIR-LIQUID FOAM AND FOR SUBSEQUENTLY DISPENSING SAME THROUGH SAIDDISPENSING NOZZLE MEANS AS A RESULT OF SAID MANUAL OPERATION OF SAIDVARIABLE-VOLUME HAND-PUMP MEANS.